The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-09-17
THE PROMINENT CITIZEN.
A Queer Character That FIourshes Wher-
ever Man Does Congregate.

ever MAN DOCS COnSregates
1t is the ambition of some men to
figure in the role of prominent citizen.
They have an Unsuitable craving to sec
their names in print. They attend all
meetings in which 'our more promi-
nent citizens" take part, and nothir q
pleases them more than to have their
names appear in the morning papers in
the long list of vice presidents.
The prominent citizen signs requests
to a theatrical manager or star to ac-
cept a complimentary benefit, after
scrutinizing the list of names to make
sure that there is preponderance of
prominent citizens like himself, though
it has been remarked that he rarely
buys ticket.
1t is for the accommodation of the
prominent citizen that chairs are placed
on the stage on public occasions, and
we have seen him swell up with the
consciousness of his own Importance as
he marched proudly to his seat, look
ing as though the whole affair was ar
ranged with the sole view to lifting
him up for the admiration of the multi
tude of ordinary citizens seated below,
who had no prominence to speak Of
So long as he maintains dignilied
composure and discreetly holds his
tongue, he is safe, but sometimes the
prominent citizen-the kind we are
writing about, of course-is BETRAYED
into the weakness of making a speech,
and the shallowness of his claim to any
consideration above his fellows becomes
painfully evident, leading simple peo-
pie to inquire how he got to be a
prominent citizen, anyhow. 1t is em-
barrassing to have a question of that
sort put in motion, and no prominent
citizen who feels at all insecure in his
position should ever do any thing to
arouse it.
There is rarely procession without
a carriage at the disposal of the promi-
nent citizen. 1t would be extremely
undigniied for him to walk like COM
mon mortals; besides thay, in crowd
he might be mistaken for one of the
most Insignificant in the proc ession,
and no suspicion of his greatness.
Seated in an open hack, with flaming
badge pinned on his coat, strangers
on the sidewalk might be led to inquire:
"Who is that man?" and he is in hard
luck if there isn't some one at hand to
reply: "That is Colonel Blank, one of
our most prominent citizens"
No one enjoys being interviewed by
the newspaper reporter like the promi-
nent citizen we are describing. He is
ready to give his opinion on any and
all subjects, from fracture in the side
walk to break in the Cabinet. If a
series of interviews should appear in q
newspaper headed, "What our promi-
nent citizens think of it," without his
name appearing it would make him sick,
and he would probably call upon the
editor demanding an explanation. In
stances have been known of his writing
out an interview with himself, unasked,
and putting it in the reporters hands.
1t is on an excursion to some other
city that the prominent citizen shines
in his greatest glory. To have his
coming announced in the papers; to be
received at the depot by delegation of
prominent citizens, some of them as
transparent humbugs as himself; to
listen to speeches of welcome, and
make speech himself, if some friend
is kind enough to write it for him; to
be Toasted and treated to free drinks,
and taken around in hack to see the
prisons, poor-houses, public libraries
and brewercs, with a lunch and
speeches at each stopping-place; to be
stared at by barefoot boys; to have the
band play "See the Conquering Hero
Comes;" to be introduced to people us
the man "who has given so much prom.
inence to his city, the introducer not
embarrassing himself OR others by en-
tering into any details-all these are
what give the prominent citizen such
exquisite joy. Then it is that he is in
his perfect element Teras .SjttingS.